Taxonomy as a tool for conservation of African stingless bees and their honey

Abstract

Afrotropical stingless bee honey is a commodity in many African communities. However, its uses and composition have not been well documented in the scientific literature, and documentation in indigenous culture is scant. Understanding Afrotropical stingless bees and their contribution to humanity is hindered by incomplete understanding of their taxonomy. Taxonomic studies are hindered by the apparent morphological similarity between species, as some currently described species are in fact species groups, representing distinct taxa by traditional healers who have practical knowledge on the medicinal uses for their honey, naturalists who observe differences in nest architecture, and in molecular studies. A taxonomic revision combining morphology and modern tools, such as DNA barcodes, is needed before Afrotropical stingless bees can be fully studied.